Drinkware apparatus

Abstract

A drinkware apparatus includes a liquid container with a reservoir therein, the liquid container having an exterior surface, and a dispensing lid that engages with the liquid container, the dispensing lid having an exterior surface. A pair of hinge lugs extend outwardly from the exterior surface of the liquid container or outwardly from the exterior surface of the dispensing lid, each of the hinge lugs having a mounting surface that opposes the mounting surface of the other hinge lug. Each of a pair of opposing hinge posts extends from the mounting surface of a respective one of the hinge lugs and is positioned between the hinge lugs. A carrying arm is rotatable about the hinge posts when mounted thereon. The carrying arm is selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts without adjustment of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drinkware apparatus comprising:
 a liquid container with a reservoir therein, the liquid container having an exterior surface; 
 a dispensing lid that engages with the liquid container, the dispensing lid having an exterior surface; 
 a pair of hinge lugs extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the liquid container or outwardly from the exterior surface of the dispensing lid, each of the hinge lugs having a mounting surface that opposes the mounting surface of the other hinge lug; 
 a pair of opposing hinge posts, each of which continuously extends from the mounting surface of a respective one of the hinge lugs and is positioned between the hinge lugs; and 
 a carrying arm that is rotatable about the hinge posts when mounted directly on the hinge posts, the carrying arm being selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts without adjustment of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing lid comprises a spout through which liquid can be selectively removed from the liquid container through the dispensing lid while the dispensing lid is engaged with the liquid container. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the dispensing lid releasably engages with the liquid container and, thereby, selectively seals the reservoir when engaged with the liquid container. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge lugs are on the dispensing lid. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the carrying arm is rotatable approximately 180° or more about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the carrying arm is selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts further without changing a structural configuration of the carrying arm other than its mounting on the hinge posts. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge posts are positioned on the hinge lugs with a gap between the hinge posts and the liquid container or the dispensing lid and at least a part of the carrying arm passes through the gap when the carrying arm rotates about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the hinge posts are offset from a central portion of the hinge lugs at a lower portion of the hinge lugs. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the carrying arm comprises a collar and a handle connected to the collar, the collar being rotatable about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon, the collar being selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts without adjustment of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container, the collar fitting between the hinge posts during the selective mounting thereon, and at least a part of the collar passing through the gap when the collar rotates about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the collar comprises one or more slot that corresponds to one or more of the hinge posts, the one or more of the hinge posts passing through the corresponding slot when removing and remounting the collar on the hinge posts. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the collar comprises a pair of opposing slots that align with the pair of opposing hinge posts, each of the hinge posts passing through the corresponding slot when removing and remounting the collar on the hinge posts. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the collar comprises an elongate loop with:
 a first longitudinal end free to rotate about the hinge posts when the first end engages the hinge posts; and 
 an opposing second longitudinal end connected to the handle; and 
 wherein the collar can slide through the gap into one or more secured positions in which the collar is not rotatable when the second end engages the hinge posts. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first longitudinal end is rounded. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the handle comprises a loop separate from the collar, the loop and the collar having a border in common. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the handle comprises a loop separate from the collar, the loop and the collar not having a border in common, and the loop being connected to the collar with a shank. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the handle comprises a tee separate from the collar, the tee and the collar not having a border in common, and the tee being connected to the collar with a shank. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the collar comprises a portion of a loop and the handle comprises another portion of the same loop. 
     
     
       18. A drinkware apparatus comprising:
 a liquid container with a reservoir therein, the liquid container having an exterior surface; 
 a dispensing lid that engages with the liquid container, the dispensing lid having an exterior surface and a spout through which liquid can be selectively removed from the liquid container through the dispensing lid while the dispensing lid is engaged with the liquid container, the dispensing lid releasably engaging with the liquid container and, thereby, selectively sealing the reservoir when engaged with the liquid container; 
 a pair of hinge lugs extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the dispensing lid, each of the hinge lugs having a mounting surface that opposes the mounting surface of the other hinge lug; 
 a pair of opposing hinge posts, each of which continuously extends from the mounting surface of a respective one of the hinge lugs and is positioned between the hinge lugs; and 
 a carrying arm that is rotatable about the hinge posts when mounted directly on the hinge posts, the carrying arm being selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts without adjustment of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container. 
 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the hinge posts are positioned on the hinge lugs with a gap between the hinge posts and the dispensing lid and at least a part of the carrying arm passes through the gap when the carrying arm rotates about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the carrying arm comprises a collar and a handle connected to the collar, the collar being rotatable about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon, the collar being selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts without adjustment of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container, the collar fitting between the hinge posts during the selective mounting thereon, and at least a part of the collar passing through the gap when the collar rotates about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon. 
     
     
       21. A drinkware apparatus comprising:
 a liquid container with a reservoir therein, the liquid container having an exterior surface; 
 a dispensing lid that engages with the liquid container, the dispensing lid having an exterior surface; 
 a pair of hinge lugs extending outwardly from the exterior surface of the dispensing lid, each of the hinge lugs having a mounting surface that opposes the mounting surface of the other hinge lug; 
 a pair of opposing hinge posts, each of which continuously extends from the mounting surface of a respective one of the hinge lugs and is positioned between the hinge lugs, the hinge posts being positioned on the hinge lugs with a gap between the hinge posts and the dispensing lid; and 
 a carrying arm including:
 a collar that is rotatable about the hinge posts when mounted directly on the hinge posts, the collar being selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts without adjustment of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container, the collar fitting between the hinge posts during the selective mounting thereon, and at least a part of the collar passing through the gap when the collar rotates about the hinge posts when mounted directly thereon; and 
 a handle connected to the collar. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the carrying arm is selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts without adjustment of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container, which adjustment includes disassembly of the hinge posts, hinge lugs, dispensing lid, or liquid container. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the carrying arm is selectively removable from and selectively remountable on the hinge posts further without changing a structural configuration of the carrying arm other than its mounting on the hinge posts, which structural configuration includes a position of a clip, catch, gate, or other retaining structure.